Frequently Asked Questions
Basic Information and Eligibility
Who can apply for AIESEC’s programs?
Undergraduates, Graduates and Postgraduates aged between 18 to 30 are welcome.
Do I need any qualifications/degree for the exchange programs?
Certain projects may require certain skills and qualifications. If any project does have any specific requirements then you can find that out by checking out the prerequisites that have been mentioned in it in its opportunity/project link and can consult your Exchange Participant Manager for it.
Global Talent:
This is a professional project which may require certain skills and qualifications. If any project does have any specific requirements then you can find that out by checking out the prerequisites that have been mentioned in it in its opportunity/project link and can consult your Exchange Participant Manager for it.
Are Exchange Programs Paid?
Global Volunteer:
All kinds of opportunities would not provide salary. Certain experiences cover accommodation for the full duration of the experience, but that would be dependent on the specifics of each program.
Global Talents:
6-8 weeks of opportunities should provide salary or should cover accommodation for the full duration of the experience. Opportunities longer than 8 weeks duration have to provide salary for the full duration of the experience.
Can I join opportunities from my country or city with AIESEC?
No, we only provide international internships to develop cross cultural understanding and global mindset development.
What are the differences between the Global Volunteer program and the Global Teacher program?
Characteristics: GV is a social project that involves teaching, whereas GTe involves formal teaching work.
Duration:
Global Volunteer: 6-8 weeks
Global Teacher: 9-78 weeks
Minimum working hours:
Global Volunteer: 25 hours/week
Global Teacher: 35 hours/week
How many hours do I have to work per week?
Global Volunteer: You are required to work a minimum of 25 hours per week.
Global Talent: You are required to work a minimum of 35 hours per week.
Finance
What does the programme fee include?
The programme fee covers all administrative service and cultural support provided by AIESEC. Accommodation cost may be included, subject to the exact project applied. For the avoidance of doubt, the deposit is a separate item and is refundable upon full completion.
Is there refund in case I am infected with COVID-19?
If you are tested positive with COVID-19 upon arrival at the destination and could no longer participate in the program, full program fee shall be refunded. If you are tested positive during the project realization phase, partial program fee shall be refunded. For the avoidance of doubt, the deposit is not refundable in this case.
Do I have to purchase travel insurance myself?
You are required to purchase travel insurance for yourself before departure. AIESEC does not provide assistance in this regard.
How much will it cost?
Global Volunteer:
The program fee depends on the duration of the program, as follows:
- Global Volunteer: $2750 [IR countries: 2250]
- There will also be a deposit fee of $1000, which will be returned to you after fulfilling the refund conditions.
Global Talent:
The program fee depends on the duration of the program, as follows:
- Short-term GTa/e (6-12 weeks): $4000 [IR countries: 3500]
- Med-length GTa/e (13-26 weeks): $4200
- Long-term GTa/e (27-78 weeks): $4400
- There will also be a deposit fee of $1000, which will be returned to you after fulfilling the refund conditions.
When do I have to pay the program fee?
Global Volunteer: You will not be paying anything when you sign up or start your selection process, you will have to pay the program fee as above after you get selected for a project.
Global Talent: You will not be paying anything when you sign up or start your selection process, you will have to pay the program fee as above after you get selected for a project.
Accommodation
Is accommodation provided?
Accommodation will either be provided within the project itself or the host entity will arrange it for the participant, in which case the rent of the accommodation will be included in the project fee paid by the intern.
What will the accommodation be like?
We have different kinds of accommodation which can be in the form of hostels, dorms to participant’s houses which are apartments specifically for AIESEC Exchange Participants or in host families. The type of accommodation can vary from project to project and even within a project we can have different types of accommodation and at times the exact nature of accommodation can only be confirmed a few weeks before the project starts as it is subject to availability.
Nevertheless, accommodation will definitely include: a single bed, access to clean water, access to a bathroom, and access to electricity.
Can I choose my own accommodation?
Usually there is no choice, the participant is just told about it a few weeks before the project starts. However a tentative option is given to the intern beforehand through which they can decide if they are okay with it, otherwise they can have the option of going with another project with a more suitable accommodation if required.
Will I have to pay for my own accommodation?
Accommodation fee is usually included in the project fee itself that is told beforehand to the EP before applying and is paid only once upon arrival to the country.
Will food be provided to me?
In few projects, food is provided and covered in the project fee itself. However, mostly the participant is given liberty to choose their own food which is considered more convenient for the intern.
In case the food is not provided, then the participant is instructed on where he can find what kind of food in the incoming preparation seminar held there soon after the arrival. Some of our accommodations can also have in-built kitchens where you can cook your own meals!
Visa
Do I have to apply for my own VISA/work permit?
AIESEC will help you by providing visa support. First and foremost, the Exchange Participant Manager will be suggesting the countries according to the visa status of those countries, meaning that they will recommend you only those countries which will have smoother visa regulations. Secondly, Invitation Letters, Accommodation proofs and other necessary documents(depending on the country) are to be provided from AIESEC to help in the process. AIESEC plays more of a consultative role as far as visa is concerned by providing guidance and the required documents.
In cases of working permit/VISA rejected, can the payment be refund?
The refund handling procedure will differ in case-by-case basis. Usually, if the work permit/VISA is rejected due to any factor that AIESEC in Hong Kong has no control of, no refund request shall be entertained. Otherwise, the applicant may be entitled to a partial or full refund, subject to the exact reason of the rejection.
Vaccination
Can I go exchange without vaccinations? Can I go exchange without being fully vaccinated (only 1st and 2nd)?
Indeed, you can go on exchange without vaccinations. However, that would depend on the border restrictions of various countries and most immigration offices would require 2-3 vaccinations upon entry.
What if my vaccinations is not recognized in the host country?
For the European Union, you must be able to provide a proof of recovery or negative COVID test result (both antigen tests or PCR tests are accepted) and they must not be older than 48hrs at the time of planend entry into a specific country.
For other countries, that would be dependent on the policy of countries. Please do check the vaccination requirement upon entry.
Emergency
In cases of accident (e.g. car accident/ loss of identification) overseas, who should I contact?
If you’ve been involved in a foreign car accident, seek any medical attention you may need immediately. Call the police or equivalent authority as soon as the accident happens and ask for a copy of the report. Subsequently, contact your nearest embassy/consulate for further assistance (normally located at the capital of each country). For any disputes amongst parties, do remember to make notes of what happened, take photographs of the scene if safe to do so, and collect the names and addresses of any witnesses as they could be important to support your claim.
In cases of natural hazards/ political and social unrest what support will be given?
In cases of natural hazard / political and social unrest, please do contact your Exchange Participant Manager and inform him/her about your most updated personal situation. Under these scenarios, operations are still in place and you may choose to either continue the journey or cancel the journey and return to Hong Kong. Our overseas AIESEC responsible will also be taking care of your wellbeing in the meantime.
In cases of COVID-19 or other diseases outbreak, what support will be given?
In cases of diseases outbreak, please firstly contact your health insurance and ask for medical help. Under these scenarios, please then also contact your Exchange Participant Manager and your overseas AIESEC responsible to book an accommodation for 14 days for self quarantine until a negative result is out (PCR/Antigen Test).